PYONGYANG, July 23 -- The Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Yong Ho departed Pyongyang on Saturday for the ASEANRegional Forum slated for July 26 in Laos.

Ri was seen off at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport by the Lao Ambassador to the DPRK, Phonekham Inthaboualy, and Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun.

This is Ri's debut show on the international stage after he was appointed foreign minister in May to replace his predecessor Ri Su Yong, who is now holding the post of the vice chairman of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

Ri, a career diplomat, was the representative for the DPRK in the long-stalled six-party talks aimed for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Senior officials from 27 countries will take part in the regional forum this year including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and diplomats from the ten ASEAN member countries.

The ASEAN Regional Forum, established in 1993, is a platform for regional security cooperation and dialogue.